NFL

Rivera: Panthers were too conservative on offense

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP)

Panthers coach Ron Rivera wants to see his team take a few more
shots down the field this Sunday against the Buffalo Bills.

Rivera said Monday the team's offensive approach was too
conservative in its 12-7 loss to the Seattle Seahawks and needs to
change in the coming weeks.

Rivera said the Panthers need to ''look at getting the ball
vertical.''

In Carolina's first game with new offensive coordinator Mike
Shula calling the plays, quarterback Cam Newton attempted only
three passes beyond 10 yards downfield, according to STATS INC.

Newton's longest pass attempt was 23 yards from scrimmage, even
though the Seahawks were without their top three defensive ends and
didn't apply much pressure.

''We looked through it and talked about it and those are the
things we'll look to change,'' Rivera said. ''We have to create
more of those opportunities.''

Newton finished with a career-low 125 yards passing and averaged
just 5.4 yards per completion.

Despite Newton's strong arm, the Panthers were content to throw
dink and dunk passes underneath the coverage and run the ball
against the Seahawks.

''We took what the defense gave us,'' Newton said.

But Rivera wants more.

The third-year coach said he was pleased with the team rushing
for 134 yards and averaging 5.2 yards per carry against one of the
NFC's best defenses, but wants to see his team make strides in the
passing game.

Rivera believes that Newton throws one of the best deep balls in
the game and that needs to be a point of emphasis.

''We do have the throw the ball a little more, so we are going
to continue to work on that to get that balance back,'' Rivera
said.

Shula previously spent four seasons (1996-99) as an offensive
coordinator with Tampa Bay Buccaneers and developed a reputation
for being too conservative.

During that four-year span the Bucs were 29th in total offense,
27th in points scored and last in the league in passing, according
to STATS INC. They never finished better than 22nd in total offense
in any of those four seasons.

Still, Shula seems to have the support of his players.

Newton was quick to defend his new coordinator after Sunday's
loss, saying Shula did an ''unbelievable job'' of calling
plays.

''We had a game plan going into this game and I believe that we
stuck to it,'' Newton said. ''We just have to make it through our
mistakes, come back and watch this film and get better like that.
We did some things that were very exciting, but as an offense and
as a team we just have to be more thorough to a degree and finish
drives.''

Several Panthers, including wide receiver Steve Smith, have been
critical this offseason of former offensive coordinator Rob
Chudzinski, who left to become the head coach of the Cleveland
Browns.

Smith said last week Chudzinski was out to attract attention as
a potential head coach and his play calling affected the team.

Smith said things will get better, predicting the Panthers will
see the Seahawks in January come playoff time.

''I think outside of the loss there are some things that are
very positive in the offense,'' said Smith, who accounted for
Carolina's only touchdown on Sunday. ''We were playing against a
pretty good defense. I think we take away some obvious things, and
we're possibly looking at a different ball game.''

This might be a good week for the Panthers to turn things
around.

The Bills allowed 288 yards passing and two touchdown passes in
a 23-21 loss to the New England Patriots.

''Offensively, we have to score more than seven points, that's
what it all comes down to,'' said offensive tackle Jordan Gross.
''We were driving there at the end to get ourselves in scoring
position and we've just got to be able to finish those drives. It's
frustrating because obviously we were in the game and that's a good
team - and you just hate to lose that one.''

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